Ex-wife sues Phil Collins over book

Phil Collins with his daughters and ex-wife, Andrea Bertorelli, who says his autobiography is inaccurateIan West/PA

The former Genesis star got candid as he revealed all about the highs and lows in his personal and professional lives in his memoir, Not Dead Yet, which was released in October (2016).

However, his first wife Bertorelli took issue with what he shared about their five-year marriage, which ended in divorce in 1980, and blasted Collins for failing to remember even the simplest of details, like where they actually tied the knot.

"Even the most basic facts have become distorted," she told the Daily Mail newspaper on Monday (28Nov2016).

Bertorelli went on to claim the false memories have thrust her personal life back into the spotlight, against her wishes, and now she is taking action.

In a statement, Bertorelli explains: "For a number of years... I have variously been portrayed as a homewrecker, a gold-digger and a bad mother (in the media). The recent publication of Phil's autobiography Not Dead Yet is the final straw.

"The book contains a number of wholly false statements about myself and my marriage to Phil which have not only seriously damaged my reputation, but have also caused me considerable distress.

"I am a private person and have never sought the limelight, even during my marriage to Phil," she continues. "However, these attacks on my character and integrity are such that I feel compelled to take legal action."

Bertorelli goes on to reveal she has hired solicitors to "instigate proceedings in libel and under the Data Protection Act 1998 against both Phil and the book's publisher".

It's not clear how much compensation she is seeking from her ex, who is yet to comment on the lawsuit news.

The former couple shares two adult children - son Simon, a musician, and actress Joely, who was Bertorelli's daughter from a previous relationship. Collins adopted Joely as his own during their marriage.